Pope Leo affirms the ‘unbreakable oneness’ of marriage at first general audience post-surgery

VATICAN CITY — The mutual self-gift of husband and wife underlies the requirement for “total fidelity” and the “unbreakable oneness” of marriage, Pope Leo XIV said at the general audience on Wednesday.

“The mutual self-giving of man and woman, such that ‘they are no longer two but one flesh,’ underlies the requirement for ‘total fidelity’ and the ‘unbreakable oneness’ of the spouses, finding vivid expression in the procreation and upbringing of children,” he said during his catechesis on Oct. 21.

The pontiff presided over the general audience just days after being discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he underwent surgery for lung cancer on Oct 13. It was the Holy Father’s first ride in the popemobile since the operation and a chance to greet the faithful who had braved the morning’s rainy weather.

The pope was welcomed with a lengthy applause when he arrived at the platform in St. Peter’s Square. Not only pilgrims, but also cardinals and bishops working in the Roman Curia gave a standing ovation upon his arrival. For many, it was the first opportunity to shake his hand again following his hospitalization.

Pope Leo XIV leans down to bless a baby while greeting…